Obamas to attend service for victims of Texas explosion

President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama will attend a memorial service Thursday at Baylor University for the victims of the fertilizer plant explosion in West, Texas.

“The President and first lady will travel to Baylor University in Waco, Texas, to attend the memorial service for those lost and injured in the deadly explosion at the fertilizer plant,” White House press secretary Jay Carney said.

{mosads}The Obamas will attend the event after the dedication of former President George W. Bush’s presidential library. Obama will arrive in Texas on Wednesday night, where he will headline a $10,000 per plate fundraising dinner for the Democratic National Committee.

West, Texas, was devastated last week when a fertilizer plant caught fire and exploded. The blast killed 14, injured hundreds more and left large sections of the small town leveled.

Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) had told PJ Media that it was “doubtful” that Obama would visit the town ahead of the White House announcement.

On Friday, Obama signed an emergency declaration authorizing federal disaster relief for the town. In his address to the nation Friday night following the capture of the Boston Marathon bombing suspect, Obama told the citizens of West “that they are not forgotten,” pledging “the resources that they need to recover and rebuild.”